Topping season

Dickie10

Would u guys always top grazing fields ? Have 2 fields I’m not sure do they need topping here’s a pic of field A. Opinions?

Dickie10

Dickie10 wrote: »

Would u guys always top grazing fields ? Have 2 fields I’m not sure do they need topping here’s a pic of field A. Opinions?

Here they are field A

49801

Dickie10 wrote: »

Here they are field A

No need there I’d feel. Nice green regrowth too so would only set it back now

Buford T. Justice XIX

Dickie10 wrote: »

Here they are field A

I reckon you're too late with that field, topping it should be done almost while the cattle are still on it. Topping after that is going to cut off the first shoot of grass being grown from the grass root reserves and will delay grazing by a couple of days again.

And I would agree with 49801, there's a good cleanout in that field and the dungpats aren't over strong there either.

It'll look better but not do much to improve the grass, for me anyway.

Gods Gift

I only top when I’ve a hangover or in need of a handy number.

ruwithme

Jayus dickie, you'd only be topping grass round the cow pads. just thinking this of late , that there's far too much topping taking place on farms.

Anyone looking in from a far would think diesel was for nothing at the amount of topping taking place round some farms.

Fair enough if your clipping afew weedy fields. Someone on here said sometime back that you need grass to grow grass. When you think about it they were right.

Dickie10

the cattle are still there i thought they were set stocked all summer, getting hay in the drought in that field , i thought i might top and let them eat up the toppings then fertilise with a half bag todrive it for august and september. but the thought of burning diesel round that field if it wasnt necessary.

older by the day

That field is grand, come back the 20th Nov and there won't be much left.

20silkcut

During the drought in 2018 I let cattle graze silage ground. They gave two weeks grazing it. When they were done I baled up about 20 bales of what they left behind and fed it to them a few weeks later and they ate every bit of it. 100% clear out.

Hard Knocks

20silkcut wrote: »

During the drought in 2018 I let cattle graze silage ground. They gave two weeks grazing it. When they were done I baled up about 20 bales of what they left behind and fed it to them a few weeks later and they ate every bit of it. 100% clear out.

Would there not be cow dung in it?

Track9

What might benefit that field ,woukld be a Run of a Chain Harrow to rip up the dung pats . You will find theres more of an even grass regrowth & cows will trim it down more evenly also.

20silkcut

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Would there not be cow dung in it?

I didn’t cut it too tight. Had no issues after. But that’s always a danger taking out strong paddocks for bales.